Feeling a Pinch — or Ease — at the Pump, Billings?

From you and I fueling up at the pump hoping the fill-'er-up cost won't be too high, to the gas companies and workers that are trying to earn their way through life, both sides need a happy medium.

Fuel cost is definitely something that is at the top of mind for most of us.

Our fuel cost has dropped in Billings 1.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.96 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 81 gas outlets in Billings. This seems right in line with the national average of $1.97 per gallon.

Even though it doesn't seem like it, we are actually roughly 4 cents cheaper than we were a year ago and 22 cents cheaper than it was a month ago.

"The first week of January seems to be on par with prior years," Jeff Pelton, GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst, said in a prepared statement.